Applicator machine



April 16, 1953 l R. A. YoNKERs ETAL 3,085,284

APPLICATOR MACHINE Robe/f A; )6H/refs Henry/Rosendo# Hen/*y aff/ropTTORN 7.

April 16, 1963 R. A. YoNKERs ETAL 3,085,284

APPLICATOR MACHINE Filed Aug. lO, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /7 45 wwwATTRNEY United States Patent O 3,035,284 APPLICATR MACHNE Robert A.Yonkers, Henry i. Rosendall, and Henry T. Lathrop, Grand Rapids, Mich.,assignors to Bissell, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

Filed Ang. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 832,677 12 Claims. (Cl. 15-59) Thisinvention relates to an applicator device or apparatus adapted for usein applying detergents to fibrous surfaces, for example rugs, carpets orthe like, and which also may be adapted for applying Wax or othermaterials to a hard or non-fibrous surface. The main objects of thisinvention are:

First, to provide an applicator device or apparatus which includes abody member comprising a liquid receptacle, a `discharge conduit and ahandle reciprocatingly associated with the body member and acting toopen the valve with a stop means for holding the handle in nonvalveoperating position.

Second, to provide a body structure including a receptacle, a partitionhavinga discharge conduit therein, the partition being spaced from thelower edge of the body member to provide a downwardly facing housingbelow the partition member, in which the body member and partitionmember may be readily formed of moldable plastic material.

Third, to provide an improved means for connecting the handle to thebody member in which the manipulating strain or stress upon the handleis distributed or sustained by substantial areas of the body memberwalls.

Fourth, to provide an .apparatus `for applying detergent containingliquids to rugs, carpets or like surfaces having nap, and working the-detergent into the nap.

Fifth, to provide a structure embodying these and other advantages inwhich the several parts may be economically produced and assembled.

The inv-ention provides an applicator machine adapted to treat a surfaceby translation of the machine in a reciprocating -forward and `backmovement over the surface and in -which a source of liquid has a valvecontrolled discharge automatically operable in cor-relation to thetranslation.

The machine is particularly `adapted to treating rugs and floors and isprovided with a long handle for manipulation by `a -standing operatorand which handle is connected to the valve control to actuate the latterdirectly by thrust forces applied by the handle to the machine. Amanually operated control member is provided to lock the handle againstvalve actuation Afor selected times when desired.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a structure embodying theinvention, the handle being partially broken away.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view, parts of the applicator rollerbeing broken away to disclose structural details kand the applicatorroller brushes being shown conventionally.

p FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 4 4 of FIG. 5 with the handle in retractedposition and the `discharge valve closed.

` FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line-5-5 of FIG. 2 with the handle in retracted or valve closing position.

3,085,284 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 ICC FIG. 6 is a fragmentary viewcorresponding to that of FIG. 5 with the handle in valve openingposition.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating details of the means.for retaining the body partition member in position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the handle in lcross sectionand illustrating the relation of the stop member thereto.

FIG. 9 is an inverted view of the handle stop member.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated is of the type illustratedin applications for Letters Patent Serial No. 660,807, now Patent No.2,975,462, filed May 22, 1957, and No. 690,772, now Patent No.2,976,559, tiled October 17, 1957, by two of the present jointinventors. It is adapted for the practicing of the method of applicationfor patent Serial No. 733,511, tiled May 17, 1958 as a division of saidapplication, Serial No. 660,807.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated is particularly desirablefor the use in the application of detergent containing liquid tocarpets. The embodiment of our invention illustrated comprises a bodymember designated generally by the numeral 1, a Vhandle designatedgenerally by the numeral 2 and connected to the body member formanipulation .of the body member and to control the discharge of thecleaning or other material. In the embodiment illustrated, the bodymember 1 is of generally rectangular section and comprises the frontwall 3, rear Wall 4, side wall-s 5 and top 6. These walls are formedintegrally of molded plastic. The walls are provided with continuousoffsets -or outwardly projecting shoulder portions 7 having inwardlyoifset downwardly projecting continuous internal flanges 8 which arespaced from the walls to provide upwardly facing continuous grooves 9.The front wall 3 is of greater length than the rear wall 4 and thebottom edges 10 of the side Walls 5 lie generally in the plane of thelower edge-s of front wall 3 and rear Wall 4, edges 10` being preferablycurved downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The partition member 11 is dimensioned to lit within the walls and isprovided with an upwardly facing groove 12 receiving the flange 8 and anupwardly projecting flange 13 ttingly received within the downwardlyfacing groove 9. These parts are fitted together to provide a liquidreceptacle 14 above the member 11 and the downwardly facing housing 15below the partition member 11. To insure a liquid-tight joint betweenthe body member parts and the partition 1l, the parts may be if desiredfusedly connected or assembled with a suitable sealing material.However, the partition member 11 is further secured by means of theclips 15 engaged with the downwardly projecting flange 17 on the member11 `and provided with springable lugs 18 which engage the front and rearwalls '3 and 4, see FIGS. 4 and 5. The partition member 11 embodies adistributing conduit 19' which extends crosswise of the body memberparallel to the front and rear walls 3 and `4l and includes a facemember 20 having a longitudinal series of discharge openings 21 therein.

The conduit 19 is connected to the receptacle 14 by the port 22 arrangedcentrally thereof. This port is controlled by the upwardly seating valve23 provided with `a stern 24 which projects upwardly through an lopeningin the bottom 25 of the upwardly facing cylinder 26 depending from thetop 6 of the body member.

The front and rear walls 3 and 4 and the top 6 are provided withcentrally disposed merging recesses designated generally by the numeral2'7. These recesses result from the insetting of portions 28 in thefront and rear walls and 29 in the top, see `FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Thehandle 2 is provided with a downwardly facing yoke-like support member30 which is secured thereto by the sleeve 31 secured to the lower end ofthe handle and having a flange 32 overlapping the top or bight portion33 of the yokelike member 3i). This sleeve 31 is a slidable fit in thecylinder 26, see FIGS. and 6. The handle Z is slidably supported on thebody member by the yoke member 3. On thrust of the handle toward thebody member it contacts the head 34 on the valve stem Z4, the head alsovserving as a thrust member `for the spring 35 supportedly seated in thecylinder 26 so that the thrust `of the handle opens the valve 23.

Cross pieces 36 are disposed across the lower ends of the recesses 27 inthe front and rear Walls 3 and 4 to conceal the lower ends `of the yokemember. The actuating of the valve 23 to open position by the thrustmovement tof the handle against spring L35 may lbe controlled bystopping relative movement of the handle 2 and body member 1. For thispurpose the handle is provided with a control member 37 rotatablymounted on the handle above the yoke member 30, and rotatably retainedagainst longitudinal movement relative to the handle by the collar 38disposed above the stop member and fixed to the handle. The body membertop 6 is provided with lugs 39 projecting upwardly through the yokemember 30 and into the path of movement of control member 37. Theunderside of the control member 37 has recesses 40 normally aligned withlugs 39 to receive the same when it is desired to permit actuation ofvalve 23 to open position. Wnen vthe control member 37 is turned to anoff position, abutments 41 on the underside -of the member betweenrecesses 40 engage the lugs 39 and prevent relative movement between thehandle and the body member 1, thereby preven-ting opening of valve 23 bythe handle. In FIG. 5 the abutments 41 are shown in aligned positionwith the lugs 39 and in FIG. 6 4the recesses 40 are aligned with thelugs. When the control member 37 is `adjusted as shown in FIG. 5, thehandle is locked in its retracted or non-reciprocating position. 37 isadjusted as shown in FIG. 6 the valve actuation thrust on the handleopens the valve 23 as illustrated in that tigure. The control member 37may be provided with Off and On indicia, either tof which may be alignedwith the pointer 42.

The yoke member 30 may be desirably ribbed at 43 to reduce possiblefrictional contact with cross pieces 36 and strengthen the yoke.

The distributing roller 44 is rotatably mounted on the When 4the controlmember 'side Walls 5 of the body member 1, this roller of resilientsponge-like material, preferably synthetic, being provided with arelatively small shaft 45 having -a collar and spindle portion 46 ofrelatively small diameter compared to the diameter of the roller, seeFIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The ends of the spindle 46 are journaled by the frame47 which in turn is carried by the side Walls 5. The details of frame 47are described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 690,722,now Patent No. 2,976,559, referred to above. The brushes, designatedgenerally by the numeral 48, are mounted on the frame 47 and are inparallel relation to the roller 44 so that the brushes are in brushingcontact with the surface over which the roller is supportedly andcompressedly translated. It will be noted that the roller 44 issupported so that material discharging through the openings Z1 isdischarged upon the roller, see FIGS. 5 and 6. As stated, the roller 44is formed of resiliently compressible spongy material and is capable ofabsorbing a substantial quantity of detergent containing liquiddischarged thereon from the conduit 19. As the apparatus is translatedover a nap surface to be cleaned, the discharge liquid absorbed by theroller 44 is first aerated by the working of said roller and .4progressively applied as a foam to the nap, thus reducing the danger ofsoaking the base of the rug. The Ifoamed detergent is thoroughly workedinto and throughout the nap both by the translation of the sponge-likeroller in pressure contact with the nap, and the accompanyingtranslation of the brushes in contact with the nap.

Dierent applicators may be employed for different types of surfacetreatment. The invention provides a means of valve control of thedischarge of the liquid automatically with handle thrust and which maybe locked against actuation for selected periods of time as desired.

What is claimed as new is:

1. -In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, valvemeans in the bottom of said receptacle for controlling discharge ofliquid from the receptacle, means carried by the top of said receptacleto translate said receptacle over a surface to be treated by saiddischarged liquid, and means extending through said receptacle andconnecting said valve means and said translating means to actuate saidvalve means automatically in correlation to said translation, saidtranslating means having limited reciprocal movement relative to saidreceptacle to effect vsaid actuation of said valve actuating means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, valvemeans in the bottom of said receptacle for controlling discharge `ofliquid yfrom the receptacle, means carried by the top of said receptacleto translate said receptacle over a sur-face to be treated by saiddischarged liquid means extending through said receptacle and connectingsaid valve means and said translating means to actuate said valve meansautomatically in correlation to said translation, and means to preventactuation of said valve means by said last named means at selectedtimes, said translating means having limited reciprocal movementrelative to said receptacle at other times to effect said actuation -ofsaid valve actuating means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, meansfor su porting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and disposedto receive liquid from said receptacle for treating the surface, :valvemeans in the bottom of said receptacle for controlling the discharge ofliquid from said receptacle to said supporting and treating means, ahandle connected to the top of said receptacle and disposed to translatethe same over the surface to be treated in a reciprocating forward andback movement, and means extending through said receptacle andconnecting said handle to said valve means for automatically openingsaid valve means upon the forward translation of said receptacle andclosing said valve means upon the backward translation, said handlehaving limited reciprocal movement relative to said receptacle duringsaid forward and back translating movement to thereby effect said valveIopening and closing in correlation to said translation.

said receptacle and disposed to translate the same over the surface tobe treated in a reciprocating forward and back movement, meansautomatically opening said valve means upon the forward translation ofsaid receptacle and closing said valve means upon the backwardtranslation, and manually adjustable control means to prevent saidautomatic opening of said valve means at selected times.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, meanssupporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and disposed toreceive liquid from said receptacle for treating the surface, valvemeans at the bottom of said receptacle for controlling the discharge ofliquid from said receptacle to said supporting and treating means, ahandle carried by the top of said receptacle and disposed to translatethe same over the surface to be treated in a reciprocating forward andback movement, said supporting means resisting said translation upon thesurface to be treated, spring means biasing said valve means to closedposition, and means connecting said handle to said valve means andproviding limited movement of the handle relative to said receptacle toactuate said valve to open position under forward thrust of the handle.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, meanssupporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and disposed toreceive liquid from said receptacle for treating the surface, valvemeans at the bottorn of said receptacle for controlling the discharge ofliquid from said receptacle to said supporting and treating means, ahandle carried by the top of said receptacle and disposed to translatethe same over the surface to be treated in a reciprocating forward andback movement, said supporting means resisting said translation upon thesurface to be treated, spring means biasing said valve means to closedposition, and means connecting said handle to said valve means andproviding limited movement of the handle relative to said receptacle toactuate said valve to open position under forward thrust of the handle,said handle extending upwardly and rearwardly from said receptacle to beactuated by a standing operator when treating a rug or the like, andsaid valve actuation by said handle being in a direction parallel to theforward thrust forces of said handle.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, meanssupporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and disposed toreceive liquid from said receptacle for treating the surface, valvemeans controlling the discharge of liquid from said receptacle to saidsupporting and treating means, a handle connected to said receptacle anddisposed to translate the same over the surface to be treated in areciprocating forward and back movement, said supporting means resistingsaid translation upon the surface to be treated, spring means biasingsaid valve means to closed position, means connecting said handle tosaid valve means and providing limited movement of the handle relativeto said receptacle to actuate said valve to open position under forwardthrust of the handle, and adjustable abutment control means between saidhandle and said receptacle to lock the same against valve actuation atselected times.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, aliquid distributing conduit beneath said receptacle and communicatingtherewith through an opening for passage of liquid from the receptacleto the conduit, a downwardly facing valve seat at said opening, a valvemember disposed to engage said seat and close said opening, spring meansbiasing said valve member upwardly against said seat, a handle carriedby said receptacle and disposed to translate the same over a surface tobe treated in a reciprocating forward and back movement, treating meanssupporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and resistingsaid forward translation, and means connecting said handle to said valvemember and providing for limited relative movement between said handieand said receptacle in the direction of forward thrust of the handle toactuate said valve member against said spring means to open the valveupon a forward thrust of said handle.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, aliquid distributing conduit beneath said receptacle and communicatingtherewith through an opening for passage of liquid from the receptacleto the conduit, a downwardly facing valve seat at said opening, a valvemember disposed to engage said seat and close said opening, spring meansbiasing said valve member upwardly against said seat, a handle carriedby said receptacle and disposed to translate the same over a surface tobe treated in a reciprocating forward and back movement, said han- 'dleextending at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from the receptacle toprovide for treatment of rugs and the like by a standing operator,treating means supporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treatedand resisting said forward translation, and means connecting said handieto said valve member and providing for limited lrelative movementbetween said handle and said receptacle in the direction of forwardthrust of the handle to actuate said valve member against said springmeans to open the valve upon a forward thrust of said handle, said valveactuation being disposed parallel to said handle to effect actuation ofthe valve against said spring means by direct axial thrust of the handlesubstantially free from binding.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, aliquid distributing conduit beneath said receptacle and communicatingtherewith through an opening for passage of liquid from the receptacleto the conduit, a downwardly facing valve seat at said opening, a valvemember disposed to engage said seat and close said opening, spring meansbiasing said valve member upwardly against said seat, a handle carriedby said receptacle and disposed to translate the same over a surface tobe treated in a reciprocating forward and back movement, said handleextending at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from the receptacle toprovide for treatment of rugs and the like by a standing operator,treating means supporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treatedand resisting said forward translation, means connecting said handle tosai-d valve member and providing for limited relative movement betweensaid handle and Said receptacle in the direction of forward thrust ofthe handle to actuate said valve member against said spring means toopen the valve upon a forward thrust of said handle, said valveactuation being disposed parallel to said handle to effect actuation ofthe valve against said spring means by direct axial thrust of the handlesubstantially free from binding, and yoke means rigidly carried by saidhandle and overlying said receptacle to maintain the handle andreceptacle against relative -displacement other than said valveactuating displacement axially of the handle.

ll. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, aliquid distributing conduit beneath said receptable and communicatingtherewith through an opening for passage of liquid from the receptacleto the conduit, a downwardly facing valve seat at said opening, a valvemember disposed to engage said seat and close said opening, spring meansbiasing said valve member upwardly against said seat, a handle carriedby said receptacle and disposed to translate the same over a surface tobe treated in a reciprocating forward and back movement, treating meanssupporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and resistingsaid forward translation, means connecting said handle to said valvemember and providing for limited relative movement between said handleand said receptacle in the direction of forward thrust of the handle toactuate said valve member against said spring means to open the valveupon a forward thrust of said handle, and control means interposedbetween said handle and said receptacle and locking the same againstvalve opening actuation by said handle at selected times.

l2. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle for liquid, meanssupporting said receptacle upon a surface to be treated and disposed toreceive liquid from said receptacle for treating the surface, valvemeans controlling the discharge of liquid from said receptacle to saidsupporting and treating means, a handle connected to said receptacle anddisposed to translate the same over the surface to be treated in areciprocating forward and back movement, said supporting means resistingsaid translation upon the surface to be treated, spring means lbiasingsaid valve means to closed position, means connecting said handle tosaid valve means and providing limited movement of the handle relativeto said receptacle to 7 actuate said valve to open position underforward thrust against valve actuation when the control member is of thehandle, a rotatably adjustable control member turned to locking,7position. carried by said handle and facmg said receptacle, and yReferences Cited in the me of this patent abutment means on saidreceptacle disposed to be engaged by the face of said control memberupon forward 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS thnist of the handle, the face ofsaid control member 1,181,594 Hinkle May 2, 1916 having recess means toreceive said abutment means when 1,267,521 Dover May 28, 1918 thecontrol member is adjusted t0 provide for Valve actll- 1,445,976 SealundFeb. 20, 1923 ation by said handle land having an abutment surface diS-2,633,590 Mitchell Apr. 7, 1953 posed to engage said abutment means tolock said handle 10 2,876,476 Woods Mar. 10, 1959

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A RECEPTACLE FOR LIQUID, VALVEMEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID RECEPTACLE FOR CONTROLLING DISCHARGE OFLIQUID FROM THE RECEPTACLE, MEANS CARRIED BY THE TOP OF SAID RECEPTACLETO TRANSLATE SAID RECEPTACLE OVER A SURFACE TO BE TREATED BY SAIDDISCHARGED LIQUID, AND MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID RECEPTACLE AND